Refrigerating device



June 19, 1934. G T PEARSONS 1,963,674

REF RIGERATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1929 INVENTOR Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,963,674 REFRIGERATING DEVICE Application January 22, 1929, Serial No. 334,187

17 Claims.

My invention relates generally to stationary or portable refrigerating devices and more particularly to a type of refrigerating device simple in construction of few parts, economically manu- 5 factured and economically operated comprising an insulated casing having an opening and a closure therefor. In said casing is a gas carrying chamber for the refrigerant, solidified gas or gases, such as solidified carbon dioxide or similar gas. Connected to the gas carrying chamber and separated therefrom by a manually or automatically operated valve or shutter other chamber called a cooling chamber mechanism is anwith thermostatic valve means therein to maintain a predetermined temperature in said cooling chamber, both the gas carrying chamber and the 0001-. ing chamber having manually and automatically operated valved inlets and outlets to maintain a predetermined temperature and pressure in the gas chamber and the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber, having an opening and closure therefor, is arranged and adapted to house a fluid containing means such as a tank, coiled pipe or some other such fluid carrying means, said carrying means being arranged and adapted to be connected with a fluid supply and to have a valve controlled outlet therefrom to the exterior of the chamber.

In the gas carrying chamber in the casing is another chamber or compartment having a passage to the exterior of the casing with no .communication with the chamber, communication through said pas'sagebeing controlled by a ther-' mostatic valve to maintain a predetermined temperature in the compartment. Cooling means such as a coil of pipe is located in said compart ment with both endsin' communication with the gas carrying chamber and so arranged as topermit the flow of fluid from said gas carrying chamber therethrough and thereby create, by refrigerating the condensation on the pipes, a frost thereon to cool the compartment and to cool or congeal its contents series of trays.

such as a fluid contained in a In the art of refrigerating it is desirable to provide a device which will eliminate the use of natural or water ice and eliminate the labor and annoyance therefrom and also the cause for ill'health due to the use of impure ice.

It has also been found desirable to provide a de-- which will eliminate the necessity for using vice electricity which is not always available and presents many hazards due not only to the ill effects of the fluid used but also from which type the due to the short circuiting of the rent.

elec ric cur- Furthermore there are many locations, houses and industrial plants, where solidified gas can be had and where natural or water ice and electricity are not available or are too expensive and where the provision of a device such as I have invented will be essential and extremely useful.

Therefore it is an object of my invention of the type described to provide a device to overcome the objections heretofore enumerated and to provide a refrigerating device wherein the use of solidified gasor gases is utilized as the refrigerant.

It has been found in the use of solidified gas, which has a'tempera-ture of minus 109 degrees Fahrenheit, that it evaporates when exposed to a higher degree of heat than its own. Therefore 0 it'is an object of my invention of the type described to provide means to secure the slow evaporation of the solidified gas when used in a refrigerating device to prolong the solidified state of the gas.

It has been found that when the solidified gas is placed in a chamber in communication with a cooling chamber with nothing to separate the two or regulate the temperature in either, that the temperature of the two chambers will be approximately the same and that each will have a temperature such as to render them useless for refrigerating purposes for either the temperature will be below. the freezing 'point, too low for general refrigerating purposes, or the solidified gas will be quickly evaporated and the temperature will rise to a degree too high for refrigerating purposes. Therefore the main object of my invention is to provide a refrigerating device of the type described wherein there is a gas carrying chamber to hold the solidified gas or gases in communication with a cooling chamber with means comprising an automatically operated valve or shutter to shut off communication between the gas carrying chamber and the cooling chamber to provide a different degree of temperature in each.

Another object of my invention is to provide manual and automatic valve controlled inlets and outlets in the gas carrying chamber and in the cooling chamber so arranged as to permit the retention or release of fluid or air from said tank and chamber to maintain a predetermined de-. gree of temperature or pressure in each of the two said chambers.

A further object of my invention of the type described is to provide in the cooling chamber -means such as a tank, pipe "or. receptacle to contain a fluid, operable to subject the fluid therein to a predetermined degree of temperature.

to a predetermined degree of temperature--by--- solidified gas contained in another chamberin i communication with the cooling chamber andLto provide means to shut off and opeirup communi: cation between the two chambers.

Another object of my invention of the typef described is to provide a chamberin 'a casing for carrying solidified gas, said casing having a compartment not in communicationutherewithwith means therein in communication with said chamber to create a cool temperature in said compartment by means of the fiuid produced by the evaporation of the solidified gas in'said chamber. v

Another object of my invention of the type described'is to provide means to connect the fluid containing means in the cooling chamber to the source of fluid supply.

Another object of my invention of the type described is to provide valve means to control the Withdrawal of fluid from the fluid containing means exterior of the chamber.

Another object of my invention of the type described is to provide suitable means in arefrigerating device ior the utilization of solidified gas as the refrigerant.

Another object of my invention of thetype described is to provide manual and automatic means to regulate temperature and maintain it at a predetermined degree in'the cooling chamber.

It has been found that where solidified gas orgases are contained ina closedreceptacle and are in the state of evaporation, there is a pressure created thereby. Therefore another object of my invention is to provide a manual and automatic means such as'a hand valve and an automatic safety valve for the release of the pres sure of the vapor of thegas of evaporation from the gas chamber andffor the' inlet of warmair thereto. v v a To the accomplishment of the foregoing and suchv other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, ashereinafter particularly. described "and then soughtto be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing showing an embodiment v of ,my invention said .drawingbeing across sectional side elevationof a, refrigeratingtdevice.

In the accompanying drawingfl is 'a cork cinsulated casing having. an opening 2 therein with a closureB therefor; in theupper endof said casing 1 is a vaporizingor gas carrying chamber 4 with an insulated bottom 4a arranged to contain a, refrigerating means such; as solidified; gas

or gases 5, such a gas being carbonl d ioigid or any othensimilar gast. To raise this sol idified. gas 7 from; the floor in the vaporizingchamber to permiteasy accessfor fluid, -snch as air, to all sides of the solidifiedv gala-and to hastenevaporation,

a grill 6 is provided on which the solidified gas orgases may-rest; Exteriorofthe casing l-and connectedto said 1 gas carrying chamber-4 ,by 'passa'ge9b isa pressurecgauge 9a operable to "determine gas ipressure rint-dchamberg4. Leading fromsaid gascarrying-chamber 4-toithe exterior thereof is passage 7 to the outlet end of which is connected a safety valve 8 comprising a ball or spring attachment to provide .for the release of fluid pressure created by'the evaporation of the solidified gas or gases 5 when a predetermined pressure is created in the gas carrying chamere. a n fro hambe s? anoth sag'e}9 leading'rtogthe exte or hereof, ommunicatidn through which is "eofitrbnedb'y a*valve 10 "in chamber 4, said valve being operated by thermostat 11 which automatically operates by change of temperature in chamber 4 to open or close valv'ej 1031to allow the outlet of cold air or the inletof warn air from or to the chamber 4 and thus pr tiee -man to maintain a predetermined temperature within-the gas carrying chamber 4.

Leading from'the gas carrying chamber 4 is an" othertpassage 12 communication through which is controlled by hand valve 13 which provides -means'forthe withdrawal of a cooling fluid from the gas carrying chamber i, .Leadingfrom gas carrying chamber 4 are openings 4b and 4c providing means of communication between gas carrying chamber and cooling chamber 15, A manual and thermostatically,operated valve or shutter 14 withropenings 14a and 14b isarranged to control communication through openings 41) and 40 between the chambers 4 and 15. Attached to valve 14 is arod 16 extending to the iexterior of casing lproviding means for manual operationof valve 14.. A thermostat 17 is'positi'oned in chamber 15 and attached to valve Y14 and is so arranged as to be operable to open] or close valve 14 at the change of temperature in chamber 15, the manual and thermostatically operated valve 14 being operable by thermostat 17 which is operable by the change of temperature in chamber 15 provides means toautomatically open or close openings .41) and 4c and thereby provides means to maintain a predetermined temperature in the cooling chamber15 and to automatically open and close communication between chambers 4 and 15 and byfclosing said openings 4b and4c to. provide means for the slowevaporation of the solidified gas 'or gases in the gas carrying chamber 4 when the temperature in the cooling chamber 15 has reached a predetermined degree. Cooling chamber 15 has an openin glfia therein and a closure' 15b there'for to permit access to the cooling chamber and its (:Ontents. Thermostat 17 comprises a leverv1'7a, a bracket 17!) for maintaining ,lleverr 1711 which is attached to valve 14 and'to a metal-bar 170 which has a high coefficient of heat' expansion and thus pro:-

vides for the automaticoperatiom 'by, the expansion or contraction of 170, of valve. 14, du'etothe changing degrees of heat in chamber 15. .Attaching-the metal .bar l lctotherlever 17a is areleasable link 17d. to provide for the release of bar 17c and thereby permitthe manual operationof valve 14by the operation? of mem ber l'fil Attached o va ve a E ndin t rbi gh i 'jopehing 14b, .is a tubular member 18 coinciding with opening 141 at certain. positions ofyalve 14 said member 18 extending from {valve 14 toward the bottom of the cooling chamber 15 provides means to nd c z c0 1 dq com t nvar eri fi ch mb r. 4 to a o n ow h meet he co lin chamber, 15. Extending into chamberr' i from. di-

" v vw l -ia s t bular me ber- 9 to ovide 111881151 ,for the passage of warm fluid from" the cooling 01131111181 15; toa-pointaboye the base'jof -the sasca mac m r en, the e in n a e 14 c i es w hro nin rset cl l lugs and passages providing means for a cirei itof air travel or circulation between the gas carrying chamber 4 and the cooling chamber 15 when communication between chambers 4 and 15 is established through the openings in valve 14.-

Leading from the cooling chamber to the exterior thereof is a passage 20 communication through which is controlled by a valve 21 said valve being controlled by thermostat 22 said thermostat 22 being operable by the change in temperature in chamber 15 to'provide means to automatically maintain a predetermined temperature in chamber 15. Passage 23 leads from the cooling chamber 15 to the exterior of casing 1 the outlet of said passage is controlled by safety valve 24 operable to provide means for the release of fluid pressure from chamber 15 when said fluid pressure therein exceeds a predetermined degree. 25 is another passage leading from cooling chamber 15 to the exterior of the casing 1. The outlet of said passage is controlled by valve 26 for manually releasing the fluid from chamber 15. In said cooling chamber 15 is a fluid containing means 27 comprising coiled pipe or any other fluid holding means such as a crock having an inlet 28 thereto and an outlet 29 therefrom both inlet and outlet being in communication with the exterior of the casing 1. Inlet 28 is arranged and adaptable'to be connected to a source of fluid supply. Said supply being controlled by a shut-oil means 280. Controllingoutlet 29 is a valve 30 to provide control means for the withdrawal of fluid from the fluid containing means 27. The liquid container 2'7 is so arranged as to be adaptable to provide means to cool the fluid contained therein by the cold atmosphere in cooling chamber 15. To maintain the fluid containing means 27 above the bottom of the cooling chamber 15 a rack or shelf 31 is provided to permit access on all sides bythe cooling fluid. In chamber 15 there are provided shelves 32 for sustaining and containing purposes. Exterior of the casing and located below valve 30 is a waste water tray 33 adaptable to be connected to a waste water drain pipe. In chamber 4 is a compartment 34 with no communication with the gas carrying chamber 4 having an opening 35 to the exterior of the casing 1 with a closure 36 therefor to provide access to compartment 34 and not permit the escape of fluid from the gas carrying chamber 4. A fluid containing means comprising a chamber or hollow element 37 such as a coil of pipe is arranged in said chamber 34 with both ends 42 and 43 thereof in communication with chamber 4 and so arranged and positioned as to be operable to create a frost in compartment 34 on the exterior of pipe; 37 the frost being created by the freezing of the condensed moisture on the pipe 37 in the compartment 34 to provide a cooling elementin-compartment 34.

Inchamber 34 is a rack 38 to hold liquid containers 39. The cold produced by the frost on pipe 37 is operable to cool or congea the liquids in the containers 39. Leading from compartment 34 to the exterior of casing 1 is a passage 40, communication through which is controlled by valve 40a. Valve 40a is controlled by thermostat 41 which is operable by the' change of temperature in compartment 34 to open or close valve 40a and thereby to provide automatic means for maintaining a predetermined temperature in compartment 34. p

In operation solidified gas is placed in chamber 4 of casing 1, where it evaporates and creates a cold atmosphere which passes from chamber -4 through passage 18 into cooling chamber 15 15. When the temperature becomes warmer in where it cools that atmosphere and forces the warmer air upwards through passage 19 back into chamber 4 there to be cooled again and to again pass through passages 18 and 19 thereby creating a circulation of air as described.

When the atmosphere reaches a predetermined degree of cold in chamber 15 the thermostat 17. operates to close the valve 14 and shut oil the passage of'cool air from chamber 4 to chamber chamber 15 the thermostat operates to open valve 14 to allow cold air from chamber 4 to permeate chamber 15 thus always maintaining a predetermined degree -of temperature in chamber 15. When a pressureis created in chamber 4 it registers in gauge 9a and when the pressure reaches a predetermined degree it operates safety valve 8 and the pressure is released from chamber 4 thereby. The thermostatic valve 10 operates at a predetermined degree to automatically release cold air from chamber 4 when the temperature reaches a predetermined degree. Hand valve 13 is operable to release the cold fluid from the chamber 4. When the temperature in chamber 15 reaches a predetermined degree it is maintained at that degree by the automatic operation of the thermostatically operated valve 21 which operates to open or close as the temperature ln chamber 15 varies. If it is desired to release the I cool air from chamber 15 or to allow warm air to permeate said chamber, hand operated valve 26 is used for that purpose. When the pressure in chamber 15 reaches a predetermined degree the automatic valve 24 operates to release it and thereby maintains a predetermined degree of 11) pressure in chamber 15. The flui lcontainer in chamber 15 being connected to a fluid supply operates to subject the fluid contained therein to the cooling atmosphere of cooling chamber 15 and to provide a cooled fl drawn therefrom at will by means of valve 30.

In compartment 34 which is not in communication with chamber 4 is a coil of pipe 37 in communication with chamber 4. The cold fluid from chamber 4 passes in circulation through thisfluid chamber comprising coil 37 and creates afrost on the exterior of the pipe 37 in compartment 34. This frost created by the freezing of the moisture (if-condensation in compartment 34 provides a 19. cooling element which operates to coolor congeal any material or fluid such as. water, contained in the containers 39.

The temperature in compartment 34 is controlled by a thermostatically operated valve 40a which operates under change of temperature to open or close the passage 40 to the exterior thereof and thereby-maintains in the compartment 34 a predetermined degree of temperature. Access is had to the compartment 34 by an opening 35 and a closure 36 therefor.

Although I have-herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred embodiment of my invention the same is merely illustrative and I claim the right to all changes, modifications and uses that come within the scope of the claims herein and the right to all uses to which the subject .matter embodied in the several claims appended hereto may be put.

I claim: I

,1. In arefrigerating device a casing having an opening therein and a closure therefor; a chamber in said casing containing'solidifled gas; a compartment in said casing with no means of communication with said chamber; an opening and a d for any desired pur- '115 closure for said compartment, means in said compartment in communication with said chamber to create a cooling atmosphere in said compartment, and means comprising a thermostatically operated valve in said gas containing chamber operabe to maintain the temperature in said chamber at a predetermined degree.

2. In a refrigerating device a casing having an opening therein and a closure therefor; a chamber in said casing containing solidified gas; a second chamber in communication with the first chamber and separated therefrom by a valve mechanism; thermostatic means connected to said valve mechanism operable by the change in temperature to open up or shut oiI communication between the two chambers; fluid containing means in said second chamber arranged with an inlet exterior of said casing to be connected to a source of fluid supply and means exterior of the second chamber operable to withdraw the fluid from the fluid containing means after it has been subjected to the temperature in the second chamber.

3. In a refrigerating device a casing having a chamber therein containing solidified gas; a compartment in said casing with no communication with the first chamber containing a liquid carrying device therein, fluid carrying means in said compartment in communication with the gas carrying chamber operable by the sublimation of solidified gas to create a reduced temperature in the compartment.

4. In a refrigerating device a casing containing a plurality of chambers in communication with each other; a compartment in said casing not in communication with any of the chambers; solidified gas in one of said chambers; fluid carrying means in another of the chambers which chamber is in communication with the gas carrying chamber; thermostaticaly operated valve means in the line of communication between the gas carrying chamber and the chamber having the fluid carrying means therein, a liquid carrying device in said compartment; means in said compartment in communication with the gas carrying chamber to congeal the liquid in the liquid carrying means; thermostatic means in the gas carrying chamber to maintain a predetermined temperature in the gas carrying chamber; and an auxiliary thermostat in the chamber having. said fluid carrying means operable to maintain a predetermined temperature therein.

5. In a refrigerating device a casing having an opening therein and a closure therefor, a chamber in said casing containing solidified gas: a compartment in said casing having no communication with said chamber having fluid containing means therein in communicable association with said chamber arranged to contain a fluid refrigerating means and operable to reduce the temperature in said compartment and means in said chamber and said compartment operable to maintain the temperature in the said chamber and in the said compartment at a predetermined degree.

6. In a gas carrying device a multiplicity of ch imbers one of said chambers adapted to carry a fluid, another chamber in communicable association with said first chamber and a pluraity of conduits establishing communicable association between said chambers, alternate conduits extending into alternate chambers and in opposite directions, whereby a circulation in a predetermined direction is established.

7. In a gas carrying device a casing having an opening therein and a closure therefor a plurality of chambers in said casing one of said chambers arranged to contain solidified gas, a second chamber in communicable association with said first chamber, outlet means leading from said first and second chambers to the exterior of the casing and thermostatic valve mechanism in the line of said outlet means operabe at a prede-' termined temperature to open or close communicable association between the first and second chambers and the atmosphere exterior of said casing.

8. In a fluid pressure creating device, a multiplicity of chambers, one of said chambers containing solidified gas, a second chamber in communicable association therewith, a third elongated chamber having its opposite ends entering the walls of the first chamber for providing communicable association therebetween, the said third chamber communicating with said second chamber only through said first chamber, and means to open up and shut off said communicable association between two of the chambers while the third chamber is maintained in open communicable association with said first chamher.

9. In a pressure creating device, a multiplicity of chambers, one of said chambers containing solidified gas, a second chamber in communicable association therewith, a third chamber having a plurality of parts in communicable association with the first chamber at-spaced points 105 in said first chamber, said third chamber commum'cating with said second chamber only through said first chamber, and automatic means to open and shut off communicable association between two of the chambers while the third chamber is in open communicable association with said first chamber.

10. In a fluid pressure creating device, a multiplicity of chambers, one of said chambers containing solidified gas, a second chamber in communicable association with the gas containing chamber, a third chamber having spaced areas in communicable association only with the gas containing chamber and through the gas containing chamber with the second chamber, and 120 means to open up and shut oif communicable association between the second and third chambers while open communicable association is maintained between the gas containing chamber and the third chamber.

11. In a refrigerating device, a casing having a multiplicity of chambers therein, one of said chambers containing solidified gas, a compartment with no communicable association with the first chamber, said compartment containing 130 a chamber in communicable association with the first chamber, a second'chamber in communicable association with the first chamber and through said first chamber with the chamber of the compartment, thermostatic valve means between the 135 first chamber and the second chamber operable to open up and shut ofl communicable association between the second chamber and the first chamber and the chamber of the compartment at a pre-determined temperature in the second 140 chamber.

12. In a refrigerating device, a multiplicity of chambers, one of said chambers containing solidified gas, a second chamber in communicable association therewith, a third chamber in 115 communicable association with the first cham-. her, said third chamber being sealed except for its communication with the first chamber said third chamber communicating with said second chamber only through said first chamber and 150 automatic means to open up and shut ofi communicable association between twoof the chambers while-the third chamber is in open communicable association with the first chamber.

13. In a gas carrying device, a multiplicity of chambers, one of said chambers enclosing a gasemitting solid, another chamber in association with said first chamber, a wall member between said chambers having conduits extending into each of the two chambers to control the direction of the gas circulation between the two chambers, and valve means operable to shut off the gas circulation from said control means.

14. In a gas carrying device a multiplicity of chambers, one of said chambers adapted to carry a gas-emitting solid, another chamber 'in association with said first chamber and means through a wall of one of said chambers including spaced conduits extending into said chambers in opposite directions through said wall member to control the direction of the gas flow between the two chambers, and valve means operable to shut off and open up the gas flow, between the two chambers.

v 15. In a gas carrying device a multiplicity of chambers, one of said chambers enclosing a gasemitting solid, another chamber in association with said first chamber, and a plurality ofmeans through a wall of one of said chambers including spaced conduits of unequal extent for compelling the passage of gas between the said duct the gas from the first and second chamber to the exterior of the said casing, and a valve controlling the outlet of said conducting means.

17. A casing having a chamber therein for solidified gas, a compartment with no commnui-- cation with said chamber, a second chamber exposed to said compartment and communicating only with said first chamber, said chambers having uncontrolled communication whereby the cooling fluid emitted may freely circulate therethrough, said second chamber having spaced portions disposed at spaced locations within the interior of said compartment whereby an even distribution of the cooling fluid throughout said second chamber may be effected, and whereby an even distribution of cold may be effected throughout that portion of the compartment containing said second chamber, and valve controlled means establishing communication from the chambers to the exterior or the casing through said first chamber only.

' GEO. T. PEARSONS.. 

